Adventures of the A-Team: not so traditional Easter tradition

Several years ago, my mom was faced with a question. A question probably many of you have dealt with or are currently dealing with.

Besides the church service and a big meal, how do I continue to make Easter memories with my grown children?

She tried filling our childhood Easter baskets with our favorite candy and gift cards to our favorite places. Don’t get me wrong, we appreciated the gifts and her thoughtfulness, but we would each take a couple of minutes to look through our goodies then we would all go back to texting our friends or laying around on the couch and watching TV.

She decided she was tired of the Easter baskets filled with stuff we would never use and candy we didn’t need. She wanted more than a lazy Easter afternoon on the couch or everyone heading home after we had our bellies full.

My mom’s answer to this question: Easter games!

Ten plus years ago, my creative and energetic momma wanted to try something different. She came up with 6-8 silly games and after grumbling and rolling our eyes, we all agreed to give it a try. Needless to say, this tradition stuck!

My now adult brothers, husband and myself have turned her Easter game idea into an all out, smack-talking, favorite family tradition. We look forward to giving each other a hard time and running around the yard like kids all while competing for prizes! We may only be competing for a $5 bill, a gift card for a drink at Sonic or a Cadberry egg, but it’s the Superbowl of holiday traditions at our house!

Some of our favorite games include:

egg toss

hula hoop contest

sack races

several Minute-to-Win-it type games

Easter themed word searches and cross word puzzles

spoon races

three legged race

Although we never know what games she will have up her sleeve, we always end the day with an adult only egg hunt. We all have our Walmart plastic bags, because we have determined our baskets don’t hold enough eggs, and we run around the yard searching for plastic eggs. There is always a prize for the person who finds the most eggs, the silver egg and the grand-prize goes to the lucky person that finds the golden egg!

Years (and years!) and two kids later, it is safe to say, Easter games is a tradition that isn’t going anywhere. If your looking for something different to do with your kiddos–give it a try! They will probably be like we were at first and grumble, but it just may turn into a favorite family tradition!

Comments

Trish McCracken is the best mama and Mimi in the world. There isn’t anything she wouldn’t do for her children, grandchildren, and friends. She’s truly one of God’s masterpieces! And she loves having fun more than anyone I know. She’s the biggest kid of all. You’re a blessed daughter, MA.